Technology, gadgets, remote control toys

Author: Drones Fella

After a successful life cycle of their Xplorer drone (both V and G versions), the folks over at XIRO decided to introduce a new one to their lineup. With the recent growth in popularity of the so-called selfie drones, they went with a no brainer and created the XIRO Xplorer Mini, a drone that could, in fact, be a worthy competitor for DJI Mavic Pro. But, is that really going to be the case? Well, that’s what I plan on explaining throughout this XIRO Xplorer Mini review. You see, I spent almost a week tampering around with this little guy and realized that it’s a pretty good drone. It’s not that expensive (which is always a good thing) and features everything a good selfie drone needs. But, is it really that good to be called DJI Mavic Pro killer? Well, let’s find out!

XIRO Xplorer Mini Review

Design – 9/10

9/10

Battery Life – 7/10

7/10

Features – 8/10

8/10

Ease of Use – 9/10

9/10

Summary

THE GOOD:
XIRO Xplorer was a good model on its own and Mini definitely has a couple of well-placed improvements that will spark up the imaginations of many people all around the world. It boasts with a pleasant design, foldable props and high-quality camera for all you selfie lovers out there.THE BAD:
The biggest disappointment with this little fella is its weak battery. Even though it is primarily marketed as a selfie drone and we all know lots of them have even worse battery, I for one would still want to see at least 20 minutes of air time.BOTTOM LINE:
In the sea of modern day selfie drones, XIRO Xplorer Mini definitely has great chances of making it big. It’s not that expensive and features great specs and features that are bound to attrract plenty of customers worldwide.

XIRO Xplorer Mini can be considered as a spiritual successor to the Xplorer drone which has already received quite a bit of praise due to its stellar all-around performance and great build quality. Mini continues in the same fashion being made out of high-quality materials and having a generally easy-on-the-eyes appearance that is bound to attract a fair share of potential buyers. But looks and materials aren’t what makes a good drone, its specifications are. With that being said, let’s take a closer look at the most important ones so you can better understand what to expect from this little fella.

Technical Specifications

Flight Duration – 15 minutes

Total Weight – 431 grams

Flight Distance – 100 meters

Flight Height – 50 meters

Camera – 1080p at 30FPS

XIRO Xplorer Mini Max Range

Let’s face it, we are so used to seeing low specifications with selfie drones that all of us were really surprised when DJI unveiled Mavic Pro’s specs sheet. Unfortunately, XIRO Xplorer Mini cannot even be compared to the DJI’s giant with its petty 100 meters of worry-free range. Even though this number is just enough for people who want to take decent selfies (let’s face it, who needs more than 100 meters for a selfie?), everyone who had bigger plans with this drone will be left hugely disappointed… including me!

Features

Now let’s take a couple of moments to talk about our lord and savior Je…. uhm… Let’s take a couple of moments to talk about the features this little drone comes with. Without going in-depth in all the usual features, I would just like to take this chance to point out that this little fella is fully foldable. In other words, you are able to fold all for sides of this drone which allows it to fit in virtually the smallest compartments in your bags. This, in addition to its stellar 1080p camera, is the biggest selling point of XIRO Xplorer Mini. With such a small factor and a good camera, it is no wonder that many selfie lovers will be aiming to purchase it as soon as it hits the market.

XIRO Xplorer Mini Review : Max Flight Time

Flight time is definitely the biggest downside of this drone. That’s why, at least in my honest opinion, XIRO Xplorer Mini cannot be compared to DJI Mavic Pro nor be nicknamed its killer. Even though there’s an extremely huge price gap between the two, I still believe that the majority of its potential customers will turn over and save up money to buy DJI’s masterpiece. Why? Well, XIRO Xplorer Mini can handle up to 15 minutes of flight time on paper. In reallity, the number is even smaller and hovers around 13 minutes of real in-air time. This is a huge dissappointment for people who would like to do more things with this drone in addition to taking selfies all the time. Such a short battery duration means you cannot go around and explore the area (truth be told, you would not be able to do that even if you had more in-air time since its range is short as well) which is a huge minus in my book. Still, don’t get me wrong – 13 minutes will be just enough for people who are only interested in using this drone as an aerial selfie machine.

As some of you already know, there is a big competition in the drones’ market, especially in the selfie drones niche which is extremely saturated at this point in time. The reason behind this is most likely the general popularity of this type of drones. It’s a known fact that people enjoy taking selfies now more than ever. It is a worldwide phenomenon that is not going to go away anytime soon… So with that being said, what is the best selfie drone currently available on the market? Well, there is certainly no shortage of candidates, but DJI seems to have a special ace up their sleeves.

This is the DJI Mavic Pro, a fully-fledged premium selfie drone that is bound to create quite the fuss on the market. With extreme potent specifications and a great design (something that DJI never takes for granted), Mavic Pro seems like a definite hit. With that being said, throughout this DJI Mavic Pro review, I will do my best to objectively present this masterpiece of the drone industry. That might seem like a bold statement to you at first, but trust me, this is one heck of a drone!

DJI Mavic Pro Review

Design – 9/10

9/10

Features – 9/10

9/10

Battery Life – 10/10

10/10

Ease of Use – 10/10

10/10

Summary

THE GOOD:
Everything! Including the camera, battery, stabilization system, features, specs, design… EVERYTHING ABOUT MAVIC PRO IS OUTSTANDING!THE BAD:
I just could not find a bad side to this model…. Perhaps the price is somewhat of a turnoff for most people… but considering it can do amazing things, it’s actually standing pretty good in terms of bang for the buck.BOTTOM LINE:
All in all, DJI Mavic Pro is an amazing drone that deserves even more attention that it is currently receiving. With a ton of praise all over the internet coming from thousands of satisfied customers, I really don’t see a reason why you should steer away from it.

Technical Specifications

Operating Range – 7 kilometers

Flying Duration – 27 minutes

Top Speed – 40 mph / 64km/h

Camera – 4K with 3-axis gimbal

DJI Mavic Pro Flight Time

DJI Mavic Prohas an amazing flight time. That’s especially true if we compare to its direct competitors in the selfie drones niche. You see, drones such as XIRO Xplorer Mini, Zerotech Dobby and so on, have approximately 10 minutes of flight time on average. That’s understandable since people don’t need more than that for taking a couple of selfies here and there. But, it’s not a surprise that DJI took thins one level further. Believe it or not, DJI Mavic Pro has enormous 27 minutes of flight time which is absolutely amazing. It surpasses all of its competitors by a mile. With such a huge flight time, it allows the drone to be used not only for recording selfies but also for exploring and doing many more things, making it the perfect all around compact drone.

DJI Mavic Pro Flight Range

Flight range is yet another specification that DJI loves to outplay their competition with. With their new technology, which they implemented into their new series of drones (Phantom 4, DJI Mavic Pro and Inspire 2), it’s safe to say they are simply sweeping the floor with rest of their competition. More than 7 kilometers of flight range makes this drone great for exploring and puts it into a whole another level. Considering all of its competitors (within the selfie drones niche) have up to 300 meters (but most of them don’t even go up to 100m), it’s pretty safe to say that DJI Mavic Pro beats them by a mile.

Camera

DJI Mavic Pro features a high-quality 4K camera which can capture magnificent aerial shots with ease. It is powered by a 3-axis gimbal stabilization system, similar to that on DJI Phantom 4. The video quality is outstanding and it does not have that jittery feel to it like most other drones have. Images are crisp clear as well, which was expected since it is primarily marketed as a selfie drone. The compact (read foldable) design allows it to fit into any sort of purse which makes it a perfect carriable camera for all occasions. With such a good quality camera comes a fluent FPV experience as well. What’s even better, it works over a huge distance (did not test the maximum myself, but will do it sooner rather than later) meaning you can experiment with FPV (and even VR) for as long as you’d like.

Final Thoughts on DJI Mavic Pro review

If we take everything that’s been said above into consideration, we will have a rather simple conclusion – DJI Mavic is by far the best selfie drone on the market. But that’s not the only usage you can put it up against. With such a strong array of specifications, Mavic Pro can excel at many things in addition to selfie shots, which is why it’s going to continue selling like crazy and making a proper name for itself (and its manufacturers) on the market.

Perhaps MJX is not the most known drone manufacturer out there, but one thing is clear – they know their way around making high-quality drones for fraction of the regular price tag. That’s probably the best way to describe their Bugs 3 drone which promises great specifications at an incredibly low price. But, how good is it? Well, that is exactly what I plan on showing you withing this MJX Bugs 3 review! So, without much further adue, let’s start with the important stuff!

MJX Bugs 3 Review

Design – 7/10

7/10

Battery Life – 8/10

8/10

Features – 7/10

7/10

Ease of Use – 9/10

9/10

Summary

THE GOOD:
As far as cameraless drones go, MJX Bugs 3 is definitely one of the best value for money models out there. With excellent specifications and great looks, it is definitely worth checking out!THE BAD:
Not necessarily a downside, the fact that it does not have a camera is still going to drive away a portion of potential buyers.BOTTOM LINE:
All things considered, it is pretty clear that MJX Bugs 3 has a lot to offer to its buyers. Amazing specifications, the abundance of features and a great design are just some of its virtues that will be the deciding factors of its success. With that being said, I am certain that it will be bought mostly by people who already own an action camera.

MJX Bugs 3 Flight Range

As you can see above, the control distance (AKA the flight range) of this drone is absolutely amazing, especially when compared to some other models in this price range. Most of its competitors barely touch the 300 mark while Bug 3 can safely go over 400… skimming to 500 on clear areas with no interferences. As I will probably mention a couple more times until the end of this review, Bugs 3 definitely has praiseworthy specifications and will not leave its buyers disappointed. Not by a long shot!

Features

If you are looking for a safe and reliable drone then MJX Bugs 3 might just be the one you are so desperately looking for. You see, while most of its competitors mostly pay attention to the usual features such as auto takeoff, auto landing, auto return to home and so on, MJX Bugs 3 takes it all one step further and drastically enhances its safety in the air. It does so with the help of its protective features that make sure the drone is as safe as it can be at all times. Some of its most important features include low voltage protection, sideward flight, automatic lock protection, high-temperature lock protection and even one key 3D stunts which will, I’m sure, be the favorite feature for young pilots.

MJX Bugs 3 Battery

Even though MJX Bugs 3 comes with a relatively low power battery, MJX Bugs 3 can still achieve praiseworthy flight time. You see, it sports a 1800mAh smart battery. In a world where the standard is set at around 3000mAh, 1800mAh can seem like a big downside. Luckily, the folks over at MJX labs managed to create an amazing power efficiency concept allowing the drone to fly up to 20 minutes with this battery. That might not seem like a lot for you, especially at first glance, but considering that drones which cost several thousands of dollars more only have roughly 10 minutes more than this little guy. That puts things into the right perspective, doesn’t it?

Packaging

If you are seriously considering to purchase this drone, then you should take a closer look at the packaging list so you can know what exactly to expect once the package arrives at your front door. Luckily, MJX wasn’t saving money on packaging and they are offering quite the bang for your bucks here. With plenty of additional accessories and all possible cables and tools you might need while setting this drone up, I can assure you this is one of the best packaging deals on the market. Here’s what comes with the drone:

1 x Tokky Bugs 3 Quadcopter

1 x Transmitter

1 x 7.4V 25C 1800mAh LiPo Battery

4 x Spare Blade

4 x Protection Frames

4 x Landing Skid

1 x Screwdriver

1 x Charger

1 x Propeller fixing mount

1 x Camera mount

1 x Manual

Conclusion

At the end of our MJX Bugs 3 review, I believe there is nothing more to be said about this little fella. Sure, the first thing all of you might consider as a clear downside is its lack of camera. But just think about it this way – there are people who already own an action camera (presumably a good quality one) and they are looking for a cheap drone that can lift their precious camera in the air so they can shoot aerial footage. These people aren’t looking to spend astronomic sums of money for a new drone. No. They are looking for a cheap alternative… and that’s exactly the type of population MJX Bugs 3 is primarily targeting.

It’s becoming more clear that selfies are evolving into an irreplaceable part of our daily lives. Whether we like it or not, selfies are extremely popular and a lot more people know about them today than was the case a couple of years ago. Driven by the power of popular media (just like drones), to this day, selfies continue to grow in popularity… So, for all of you who would like to take things up a notch in your selfie game – meet selfie drones – the biggest thing that happened to selfies… since selfies!

What are selfie drones?

Before answering that question, first, we must tell you what a selfie is… although I’m pretty sure most of you are well familiar with the terminology. Selfie is basically a self-portrait shot which is usually taken with various types of smartphones. Most frequently, selfies are taken during special occasions, involving special people and captured from various angles. Occasionally, they even involve plenty of people in one shot. That’s the so-called group selfie.

What separates selfie drones from standard ones?

The most basic of concepts hiding behind selfie drones is a good camera. By good, I mean 4K and FHD which are considered as standard at the moment. Additionally, another very important aspect is general size. The smaller the drone, the better it will suit the “selfie nation”. You’d be surprised to find out how much selfie drones are smaller than their standard counterparts. Moreover, the ability to fold is a smooth touch too, and it’s becoming more popular these days. As a matter of fact, there are plenty models on this list which are foldable. Needless to say, this gives them even smaller size during transport… and I’m sure there’s a lot of you who want portability from their next drone.

Most important traits selfie drones possess

In addition to size, portability and a camera which outputs decent quality images, there are few other traits that an ideal selfie drone needs to have. Sure, your drone is small enough, has a solid camera and can fold… but is it easy to fly around and can it take smooth aerial footage? Well, if it has the following traits then it might just be the perfect one!

Image stabilization

Obviously, image stabilization is of crucial importance for a good selfie drone experience. Typically, a good image stabilization cannot go without a hardware gimbal stabilization system. Luckily, there’s a lot of drones featuring it nowadays… Unfortunately, cheaper selfie drones don’t. Don’t get me wrong though – they can still capture awesome selfies, but you will notice some jello and shakiness in aerial videos.

Altitude hold

Altitude hold is another very important feature for a selfie drone. For those of you who don’t know what it does – altitude hold basically allows precise hovering on a constant height without needing to hold the throttle manually. This will give you a much more relaxed flying experience and, obviously, allow you to engage better in taking that perfect selfie.

Advanced drone features for selfie lovers

In terms of extra features which tend to be somewhat useful to selfie lovers, you’ll be surprised to see a whole bunch of them available. Realistically speaking, there’s a ton of smart flight modes that can be used for taking awesome selfies or aerial videos. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the best of the bunch!

Follow MeFollow me mode is useful for both selfies and aerial footage. When engaging in an activity, simply turn on this mode and your drone will follow you anywhere you go. Of course, you can take pictures or start recording at any given time.

Selfie ModeCertain drones have a feature called Selfie Mode. What this does is essentially provides you with the optimal angle for a shot and giving a few software gimmicks to beautify images. Furthermore, there are models out there which combine Selfie Mode with facial recognition software for even better results.

Cable Cam ModeCable Cam mode is another version of autonomous flights. This one lets you adjust heights of flying and set up a linear pathway that drone is going to follow accurately. You can even set up linear “patrol” and snap perfect selfies at all the right times.

OrbitOrbit mode is rather self-explanatory – by turning it on and selecting a target, your drone will start to hover around the object/person. With a little imagination and plenty of battery life, orbit mode could be your gateway to the perfect aerial selfie shot!

ActiveTrackDJI selfie models such as Mavic Pro and Spark are equipped with a special feature called ActiveTrack. It relies on their specialized recognition software that allows the drone to follow designated objects (cars, bikes or similar) or people with a plethora of customizability available. Needless to say, ActiveTrack performs greatly in terms of selfies – it’s the perfect combination!

8 Best Selfie Drones

Now we are going to start off with the list since most of you were eagerly expecting it…

8. ROVA Flying Selfie

First in line of awesome selfie drone is Flying Selfie by ROVA. It is nicely poised with solid specifications, great camera, and interesting design. Speaking of design, the first thing you will notice about this one is its PC fan-shaped design. With 4 propellers/motors spread across in all 4 corners and a sturdy frame completely surrounding them, it’s safe to say ROVA Flying Selfie is a highly durable model! But is durability all it has to offer?

Well, judging by its awesome camera, I’d say things are pretty far from that. It sports a 12MPX sensor with both software and hardware image stabilization included. The sensor even incorporates a miniature flash and can record FHD videos in smooth 60fps. Feature-wise, this little birdie possesses obstacle avoidance and the already-mentioned prop guards which fully enclose its propellers and motors. So, if you’re looking for a great aerial selfie camera, ROVA Flying Selfie looks (and performs) surprisingly well.

Specifications aren’t too far off either. ROVA Flying Selfie can endure roughly 8 minutes of airtime. At first, that could seem like a downside. In reality though, average selfie drone has roughly 8-10 minutes airtime, making ROVA Flying Selfie right at the margins. The range is solid too – roughly 30 meters is more than enough for a perfect shot! Lastly – ROVA Flying Selfie comes with an extra battery to double your airtime as well as a mini carrying case for easier transportation.

7. Wingsland S6

The drone that’s made it onto the 7th spot is made by Winsland and its respective name is S6 (Outdoor Edition). This miniature drone comes in 5 color options and features EIS 3-axis digital stabilization system which ensures buttery smooth aerial footage clear of jello, shakiness and all those nasty things. Combined with a fully fledged 4K camera and a wide array of accessories and features, Wingsland S6 represents an aggressive stance at the mid-tier selfie drone market. How well does it perform? Well, let’s see…

I’d like to continue on with the camera. You see, this little fella features a built-in sensor that can capture 4K in 30fps and 1080p in 60fps. What’s even better is the fact Wingsland S6 incorporates GPS+GLONASS which give more weight to the camera – you’ll get the benefits of features such as altitude hold, course lock and return to home. Needless to say, they’ll provide you with intuitive controlling and free up your mind so you can better concentrate on taking actual selfies.

When it comes to the specifications, Wingsland S6 doesn’t fail to deliver. If you opt for this drone, you can rest assured to get at least7 (maximum 10) minutes of airtime and cca 30 to 50 meters of operating range. All in all, Wingsland S6’s biggest virtue is undoubtedly its 4K camera with 3-axis gimbal. For people who want only the best selfies at an incredibly cheap price – Wingsland S6 should seem like a great option.

6. Zerotech Dobby

At the moment, Zerotech Dobby is on a massive sale. More precisely, you can get this little fella for slightly over $250 which is a proper bargain. What you’ll be getting for that money is an excellent selfie drone with a stylish design and excellent camera!

Zerotech Dobby has had a successful marketing campaign and is no ranking up in sales. What people love about it is its exceptional ease of use, amazing camera (capable of capturing 4K aerial footage of course) and mobility. Yes, Zerotech Dobby is a miniature, foldable drone that packs all of its hardware in a ridiculously small size factor. It’s easy to carry, set up and operate – 3 in 1! As a matter of fact, you can easily place Zerotech Dobby in your pocket and casually carry it around with you everywhere you go.

In terms of features, Zerotech Dobby comes equipped with GPS, altitude hold, and automatic return to take off location. Moreover, it also features optic flow and ultra sonic positioning sensors for indoor flying. Specifications-wise, Zerotech Dobby can fly for up to 10 minutes and go as far as 100 meters from your smartphone. Yes – this is a smartphone-controlled drone. Surprisingly though, it keeps steady and is a breeze to control with intuitive and responsive controlling schematics. So, with everything taken into consideration, I believe Zerotech Dobby is a solid choice for all selfie lovers out there, especially now that it is on a massive sale and you can get it for roughly 2 thirds of its original price.

5. Yuneec Breeze

Here we have a drone that looks kind of like Zerotech Dobby. I mean, they’re not identical but sport the same glossy white finish with outstanding 4K cameras. One thing that Yuneec Breeze lacks is definitely foldability. While Zerotech Dobby is a pocketable model, Yuneece Breeze is not due to the fact its propellers cannot retract inside (or underneath) the body. Other than that, Yuneec Breeze looks absolutely solid, which is why we are going to take a more in-depth approach to it!

With a uniformed body that seems sturdy and breathes quality upon being touched, Yuneec justifies its reputation as a trustworthy drone brand. They released several high-end models in recent years, including Typhoon H and Q500, both of which are ranking greatly among their competitors. Considering Yuneec Breeze sports a 13MPX camera capable of 4K, indoor positioning system, several smart flight modes (including selfie, orbit, follow me and more) and instant social media sharing, it seems as though Breeze won’t fall behind its bigger brothers anytime soon.

Specifications only confirm my initial statement – Yuneec Breeze is bound to deliver! It can automatically return to its take off location or with just one button press… but more importantly, Zerotech Dobby has decent specifications which run the show. I’m talking about roughly 12 minutes of flying time and cca 80 meters of operating range. They’re not too shabby at all. Come to think of it, you won’t be able to get your hands on anything better at this price range and within this size factor.

4. XIRO Xplorer Mini

XIRO Xplorer Mini, as its name implies, is a mini drone with foldable propeller arms and a uniquely shaped (and aggressively looking) design. Starting off with the good things, it’s noteworthy to state that it comes with an extra battery (2 in total) and a small carrying pouch. If you’re not the biggest fan of pouches, you can always put this birdie into your pocket and be on your way!

XIRO Xplorer Mini is not exactly a successor to XIRO Xplorer series of drones. It’s quite the contrary actually – while XIRO Xplorer G and V versions are fully fledged drones meant for casual aerial photography, XIRO Xplorer Mini is aimed at true selfie lovers and all who feel that way. With a 13mpx FHD camera with wide angle 190-degree lens, XIRO Xplorer Mini can provide with seamless selfies time and time again. FPV transmission is present as well, but, unfortunately, works over WiFi with the help of dedicated Android and iOS apps.

Dual satellite positioning systems (GPS and GLONASS) make up for extra stability and offer a wide array of additional features among which are follow me mode, low power/lost connection failsafe, and auto return to home. XIRO Xplorer Mini is powered by a smart 1650mAh LiPo battery which offers approximately 15 minutes of juice. Last but not least – this little birdie flies up to 100 meters away from your smartphone. Keep in mind this number is actually pretty solid considering it works via WiFi and not 2.4Ghz. All in all, it’s pretty clear XIRO Xplorer Mini isn’t a direct competitor to XIRO Xplorer V and G. Instead, it focuses on the selfie drones market where it enjoys decent popularity. And it’s all justified if you ask me!

3. GeniusIdea Follow

At the 3rd spot, we have a brand new drone that most of you probably haven’t even heard about yet. It’s made by GeniusIdea and it’s called Follow. A pretty interesting name if you ask me. But, more important than its name, today we are going to be focusing on this drone’s performance and value for money. So, without any further adue, let’s jump straight to business and see what’s this interesting little drone all about!

Weighing in at just 270 grams, GeniusIdea Follow drone seems too lightweight to be taken seriously. However, with solid specifications and an innovative twist to the tale, it might just be a worthy competitor for the very top of selfie drones market. Why is that? Well, first of all, you need to know that this is a fully flexible drone. Not foldable – flexible. It is made out of unique material which twists and bends at will. Obviously, this gives GeniusIdea Follow an insanely good look in terms of durability as it’s virtually unbreakable. Heck, even its propellers are bendable.

Second of all, GeniusIdea Follow incorporates a 4K camera along with a second one (lower quality, used for position hold) that’s built into the bottom portion of the drone. Some of its most handy features include Follow Me, facial recognition software, position hold, and much more. Specifications aren’t to be taken for granted either. Believe it or not, GeniusIdea Follow sports up to 20 minutes of battery life once you put in 2 Lithium batteries inside. Yup, this thing works with standardized Lithium Ion batteries (these ones are a great choice) that can be bought for ridiculously cheap. Finally, operating range hovers around 100 and 150 meters. Not too shabby in that department either, don’t you agree?

2. DJI Spark

Runner up for the best selfie drone at the moment is DJI Spark… Although it’s arguable which one out of these 2 should’ve taken the title. Both of them are made by DJI but sport drastically different prices. In terms of value for money, I’d go out on a limb and say that DJI Spark seems a bit better in my opinion, just because of its price. Still, I placed it second out of pure respect for DJI Mavic Pro and what exactly it represents – and that’s class A performance in a tiny package. But, enough about DJI Mavic Pro, let’s talk a bit about its little brother – DJI Spark.

Starting off with the camera, you’ll be happy to know DJI spark incorporates a 12MPX 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor with a 2-axis mechanical gimbal that takes good care of any stabilization issues that might occur. Moving forward to specifications, DJI Spark runs on a 1480mAh intelligent battery running on 11.4V. Obviously, we’re talking about a 3S LiPo worth 16.87 Wh. Considering it only weighs around 0.2lbs (95 grams), it’s quite surprising to see it powering Spark up to 16 minutes per charge. In terms of range, here’s the deal – by default, DJI Spark is a smartphone-controlled model which doesn’t have the greatest range. On the other hand, if you get the dedicated controller too, expect around 2 kilometers.

When it comes to features, DJI Spark is second to none as well. As I’ve mentioned before, it takes advantage of DJI GO app which allows a huge set of features at its disposal. But, in addition to ActiveTrack, TapFly and all others, DJI Sparks comes with 2 specialized ones. I’m talking about PalmControl and PalmTouch. They allow you to control DJI Spark without using a smartphone or its dedicated controller. It can be tricky at first, but once you master it, you’ll love it! So, with everything said taken into consideration, DJI Spark is an amazing all around drone… and clearly the best in terms of size/performance ration. I couldn’t recommend it more!

1. DJI Mavic Pro

Just like I stated above, DJI Mavic Pro is, at the moment, the most powerful selfie drone on the market. With unparalleled performance and amazing size, it’s taking the drone market by storm! Are you doubting its quality? Well, in the next couple of paragraphs I’ll show you why exactly are you terribly wrong!

First things first, DJI Mavic Pro sports an incredibly powerful 4K camera with 3-axis gimbal stabilization system (remember, DJI Spark only has 2-axis one) for ensuring optimal image and video stability. In terms of image quality, you can rest assured you’re getting a top flight solution as this camera is as good as those which come on full sized premium drones. That goes for features too. DJI Mavic Pro comes with full support for DJI GO app meaning it has access to a wide array of smart features. They include Follow Me, ActiveTrack, Altitude Hold, One Key Return To Home, TapFly, and plenty more. Most of them are powered by GPS and others by built-in proprietary sensors made by DJI (obstacle avoidance for example).

Needless to say, all these smart features make DJI Mavic Pro a breeze to control. Even though it is primarily targeted at professional photographers, beginners can still take advantage of its advanced features because of highly intuitive GUI of DJI GO app. Specifications are nothing short of brilliant, if I am to be completely honest here. DJI Mavic Pro has roughly the same numbers as DJI Phantom 4 Pro. It’s true! You can expect up to 27 minutes of battery life and, thanks to OcuSync technology, roughly 7 kilometers of range on this bad boy. Best of all, it’s miniature, foldable and can be packed in a pinch. For a real selfie master – DJI Mavic Pro is the way to go! There is no doubt about it…

Conclusion

In the end, I really don’t know what is there left to be said about these miniature foldable birdies. I’ve tried my best to keep as objective as possible even though I’m a huge fan of easy-to-transport drones with unparalleled performance… And that’s pretty much the perfect way to describe selfie drones.

Finally, I’d also like to thank you for reading this article with the hope that it helped you with your decision-making. Until next time…

I have been waiting for this to happen for quite some time and, needless to say, I was thrilled when GoPro unveiled their first drone back in 2016. It’s been a lot of time since then and now I have finally laid my hands on the drone itself. My initial expectations were exceeded when I took the drone in my own two hands. It was unbelievably sturdy and felt indestructible. It became pretty clear that GoPro made sure the design is nothing short of brilliant. Moreover, there’s just one more thing I’d like to add before proceeding to the GoPro Karma review – with its foldable propellers and a generally small size, this Karma is most certainly not a bitch!

GoPro Karma Review

Design – 10/10

10/10

Battery Life – 7/10

7/10

Features – 6/10

6/10

Ease of Use – 8/10

8/10

Summary

THE GOOD:
For everyone who is looking for a compact aerial photography drone capable of capturing amazing footage, GoPro Karma will be a great choice. It has an outstanding design, great build quality and supports only the best GoPro action cameras out there.THE BAD:
The biggest downside of GoPro Karma is definitely the lack of smart features such as follow me or waypoints. In addition to that, it’s also worth mentioning that it’s priced very aggressively which will drive away many potential customers.BOTTOM LINE:
All things considered, GoPro Karma is still an excellent aerial photography drone. If you don’t mind that relatively high price tag and you already have a GoPro, then I am sure you will be satisfied with what this drone can do.

Specifications

GoPro Karma Battery and Flight Range

People usually expect awesome specifications from GoPro products, and that’s exactly the case with their new drone too. People expected it to have AMAZING specifications and were left kind of disappointed when GoPro released them. I, for one, was not that disappointed, but that’s most likely due to the fact I was not expecting anything groundbreaking from them. Needless to say, most of my friends did and they were enraged when they found out Karma could only travel up to 1,000 meters and fly for around 20 minutes. These specifications aren’t that bad if you compare them to the rest of the market. The main problem is that most people have had way too big expectations in the first place, and their hopes got shattered once the specs sheet came out to the public.

Aerial Photography

Of course, for a drone made by a company that primarily makes action cameras, it comes as no surprise that Karma does miraculously when it comes to aerial photography. As you can see the in technical specifications list, it supports the following cameras: Hero 5 Black, Hero 5 Session and Hero 4. For the latter, you will need to buy a special harness which is sold separately and will cost you roughly $35. Regarding actual image and video quality, in terms of stabilization and smoothness, I have to admit GoPro Karma is one of the best models on the market. It’s so easy to take perfect shots with this despite the lack of smart features (we’ll discuss that in the next paragraph, don’t worry). Videos are extremely smooth and don’t have that annoying jittery effect I noticed on other drones. All in all, aerial photography wise, GoPro Karma is as good as they come!

GoPro Karma Features

We have come to the biggest downside of this model. If its specifications were bad to most of its potential buyers, then the features are surely the tipping point that made them pass on buying this drone. You see, even though it is priced extremely high, GoPro Karma does not have such a good set of features. More precisely, it lacks several smart features which most of us were expecting from it. Even I expected it to have at least some sort of smart flight features, and we all know I usually don’t expect future products to be all that great. Unfortunately, GoPro Karma failed to deliver even the simplest of smart features such as the ever-so-popular Follow Me which is often seen even with more affordable drones than this one. What’s even worse is that it does not even have downward positioning sensors which are crucial for worry-free indoor flight. Bad Karma… Baaaad!

Final Verdict!

Now that you guys know more about GoPro Karma, I feel like it’s time to conclude. Without going into too many details, I would just like to point out that GoPro Karma is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. With average specifications, great aerial photography capabilities and outstanding design, I believe its primary audience will be professional photographs and art students and not tech enthusiasts, myself included. This is mostly due to the lack of many popular smart features us tech nerd have already gotten accustomed to with other models on the market. Still, despite that, I believe GoPro Karma will have its fair share of the market and definitely looks to make a good name for itself out there! Let’s not forget that this is the first GoPro’s drone ever. With that in mind, I am more than satisfied with the end result.

Drone market is being heavily saturated by budget models with questionable quality. Their specs sheet might look good at the very first glance, but they fail to deliver in other aspects. Most of these drones are made with cheap materials and they tend to break after the very first collision. But, today, we have an interesting one at display. I’m talking about the Upair One which seems like a great budget option for an all-around drone. But, is it any good? Well, that’s exactly what I wanted to share with you guys! So with that in mind, let’s get straight to business and to the actual Upair One review!

Upair One Review

Design – 9/10

9/10

Battery Life – 8/10

8/10

Features – 7/10

7/10

Ease of Use – 9/10

9/10

Summary

THE GOOD:
With great all-around performance and solid build quality, Upair One hits the sweet spot as one of the best bargains on the market.THE BAD:
The gimbal seems to have issues with tilt precision and there is virtually no customer support. I tried to get in touch with Upair’s staff but ended up being trashed around from one email to another. Very bad customer support experience.BOTTOM LINE:
Upair One is a great all-around option that can even be a semi-professional aerial photography platform (especially the 4K version). Still, it has a few noticeable downsides such as the non-optimized gimbal and non-existent customer support.

Technical Specifications

Battery and Flight Range of the Upair One

Upair One comes with a powerful battery that exceeded my expectations by a mile. It’s a smart 5400mAh battery that we often see with more expensive drones. Under full load, it can endure for roughly 18 minutes which is decent enough for the price this drone goes for. It possesses the quick charge technology which allows it to charge as fast as 1 hour and 30 minutes, allowing you to be back in action in no time at all… especially if you have 2 of them.

Flight range is pretty good as well, almost to the point of being on par with some of DJI’s older models. Without FPV, you can easily reach 800 meters, but I doubt any of you would like to travel that far away without any sort of visual feedback. If you, on the other hand, turn FPV on and monitor it via the built-in display (more on that later on), you can still achieve respectable 500 meters, which is pretty good for the industry’s standards.

Upair One Camera

Now, the interesting thing about Upair One is the fact it comes in 2 different versions; 4K and 2.7K. Of course, the 4K version is a bit more expensive (nothing drastic though, you can find it for roughly $50 more than the 2.7K one). Both versions come mounted on a 2-axis gimbal which is not that great. Not only does it rotate only on 2 axes (in comparison to 3 axes which is sort of a standard in the industry as it provides the maximum stability and smoothness while recording) but it also has some issues every now and then. It does not tilt and rotate accordingly which gave me quite a few problems when I was trying to take some awesome aerial shots with it. On the other hand, both cameras are pretty good. The quality is excellent although you will notice a bit of shakiness due to the bad gimbal stabilization system.

Features

As you all know, all good drones have excellent features to go along with them. In most cases, these features are what separates the good from the awesome ones. That’s why I want to say a couple of words about the features of this little fella. First off, I would like to thank the folks over at Upair’s HQ for providing us with such a cheap drone with built-in GPS. Yup, you read that right – Upair One has a fully fledged GPS system and it’s surprisingly precise. In addition to that, it sports all the standard features such as One Key Return to Home, Failsafe Auto Return and even Low Voltage Auto Return. I wanted to see a couple more advanced features like the ones I saw on DJI’s new line of drones, but I guess it was too much to ask for such an affordable price.

Controller

Let’s start last paragraph of our Upair one review by saying that Upair One’s controller is absolutely amazing. I love it! It does look hell of a lot like DJI Phantom ones, but it still has some finishing touches that allow you to differentiate them. The biggest difference is definitely the huge 7-inch display mounted on top of it. It works like a charm and allows you to indulge in a fantastic FPV experience every time. In addition to that, it is also important to mention that the controls are rather intuitive and that no one will have any problems with them.Upair One is really easy to control and is suitable for pretty much all ages.

I am sure you already know that drones possess all sorts of useful features that you can use to your advantage. One of the coolest ones is definitely the Follow Me function that will surely get you excited. If you didn’t already see follow me drone in action, I’ll try to explain it in following sentence. What it does is basically allow the drone to follow its transmitter wherever it goes. While it’s on its route, you can easily shoot videos and / or capture images, leading to amazing footage every time. This new technology is awesome, and if you are interested in it, here’s a list of top 10 drones that are equipped with it.

UNDER $200

Hubsan H502S

The cheapest drone that follows you on this list is made by Hubsan, a stellar drone manufacturer which has made quite a name for itself on the market. This drone sports a solid 720p camera that supports FPV via the built in 4.3-inch LCD display on its respective controller. Feature wise, this little fella is equipped with 6-axis gyro system, altitude hold mode and follow me function which is something we are not used to see in this price range. Still, with up to 12 minutes of flight time and excellent build quality, the H502S proves that Hubsan still knows its way with making great budget drones.

$200 TO $400

XIRO Xplorer G

Xplorer is a bulky drone made out of top quality materials, making it exceptionally resistant and shock proof. The G version does not come with an action camera, but to compensate for it, the folks at XIRO introduced an amazing 3-axis gimbal that supports GoPros. It allows great stability and is able to provide your GoPro with smooth flight, making up for some top quality aerial footage. In addition to the follow me function, Xplorer G also possesses circle around me feature that will help you capture great videos with your friends and family. And finally, this little fella can reach up to 500 meters away from its transmitter, and endure cca 25 minutes of flight time due to its smart 520mAh battery. Not bad for a drone that costs less than $300.

3DR Solo

Solo is a beautiful drone with glossy finish that will surely capture the looks of everyone in your household. It is quite lightweight for its size, and even features 2 microprocessors. Due to this, 3DR markets is as the world’s first smart drone. When it comes to its features and specifications, Solo is equipped with oribing mode, follow me, cable cam and selfie mode, all of which you will greatly appreciate across a lot of different scenarios. Things are amazing in the specifications department too. With more than 800 meters of flight range and cca 20 minutes, it is pretty clear there’s a bright future ahead of it.

$400 TO $600

SPEEDWOLF VAJRA80

This follow me drone has not been on the market for very long, but it has already attracted a fair share of buyers with its stellar performance all-around. From such an unknown brand like Speedwolf, it’s always a great surprise to see an awesome product. This is exactly how we can characterize the VARJA80 (not exactly the prettiest name though) who sports powerful brushless motors who are capable of lifting up to 1.5 kilograms. This means you can easily mount your own professional photography camera to the VARJA80 for awesome aerial footage. If you don’t plan on doing that, there’s still the built in full HD camera that is able to provide you with decent image quality. Its flight range goes up to 1000 meters and it can endure up to 25 minutes in midair. All in all, a great new drone that deserves all the attention it can get.

DJI Phantom 3 Standard

And we have come to the first DJI’s drone that follows you on this list and it is the Phantom 3 Standard Edition. This little fella sports all the features you’ll ever need, such as GPS, FPV, follow me, point of interest, waypoints and even more. Its build quality is, as always, nothing short of brilliant, and the specifications are top notch for a drone that costs less than $500. It can fly up to 25 minutes with its smart battery that can be easily charged (charger included in the packaging). Another great thing about this drone is that it comes with a great 2.7K camera and you can seamlessly shoot videos up to 1 kilometer away from you. Inside the 1km area you won’t need to worry about losing connection, but even if you do, Phantom 3 won’t crash because it has failsafe security system.

$600 TO $1000

3DR IRIS+

This compact drone has a set of handy features that will leave you craving for more. Even though it has quite a good price for such a small drone, the IRIS+ has more than enough to justify it. For instance, it features a great 2-axis gimbal, has 400g maximum payload and supports 3DR’s well-known autopilot system. In addition to that, this little devil also supports waypoints, follow me, failsafe functions and colorful LED status lights. With its 20 minutes of flight time and cca 1 kilometer of flight range, it is pretty clear that Iris+ means business. Great features and specifications from such a compact drone completely justify the $600 price tag.

Yuneec Q500

If you are willing to spend $$$ on a brand new follow me drone that will serve you loyally for many years, then Yuneec Q500 might just be the one for you. It comes bundled together with a top quality CGO3 camera capable of shooting 4k videos at 30 frames per second. Additionally, it can even shoot slow motion footage in full HD, which is pretty amazing, if I may add. Alongside the camera, this little fella also comes with an ST10+ controller and steady grip, allowing you to have an amazing flying experience with seamless controls. It is nothing short of spectacular in specifications department either – 25 minutes of flight time and up to 800 meters of flight range make it a viable choice for everyone wanting a top-class drone of their own.

Autel Robotics X-STAR Premium

If you are looking for a premium drone in every sense of the word premium, then you cannot go wrong with the Autel Robotic’s XSTAR Premium. This drone is well versed in all of its respective aspects, making it one of the best all-around drones currently available on the market. It sports a top quality 4K camera that is bound to provide you with nothing but exceptional image quality time and time again. In addition to that, it has a range of up to 2 kilometers and can fly up to 25 minutes. Combine its excellent specifications with dual mode GPS, follow me function, awesome controller with a built-in LCD display, and you got yourself an amazing premium drone for just $700.

OVER $1000

DJI Mavic Pro

And we have come to the 2 most expensive drones with follow me ability on this list. The first one is Mavic Pro with a fine set of features that you will greatly appreciate. The most interesting one is surely its ability to fold, allowing it to be an extremely compact device that can fit pretty much everywhere. Combine that with a state-of-the-art 4K camera with extreme stabilization and crisp clear smoothness, and you will begin to understand why this drone is so special. It features both GPS and GLONASS systems allowing you to have pinpoint accuracy no matter what’s your latitude. And finally, it is important to add that this little fella has up to 7 kilometers of lag-free long range (HOLY MOLY) and cca 27 minutes of flight time, which are both amazing. Still, everything mentioned above is not exactly dirt cheap – you will have to make a $1k dent in your budget if you want to buy this drone, but with everything we’ve just mentioned, it’s still a great bargain!

AirDog

The most expensive drone on this list is actually a sports drone with a unique look and feel to it. Say hello to AirDog, one of the most innovative drones on the market. It specializes in extreme sports and has a wide set of features to back it up. It focuses on autonomous flight and has several different fight modes depending on the sport / activity you are into. Instead of a big and bulky remote control we are so used to seeing with all other drones out there, the AirDog actually has a wearable transmitter called AirLeash. It is completely water proof which means you can easily control your drone while surfing, swimming or doing any sort of water sport down at the beach. While it does not come with a built in camera, it features GoPros (Hero3 and Hero4 models with built in support while Hero5 adapter is bought separately), meaning you can easily mount your own camera for an ultimate aerial footage experience. With a unique look and wide array of flight modes, the AirDog seems like the best choice for people who enjoy extreme water sports.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of great drones that sport the Follow Me function. While the budget models aren’t really that much represented with this features, mid-tier and premium ones adopted it without any issues. To summarize, if you are looking for a great drone that can follow you around while you do your routine and presumably take pictures and videos, you can’t go wrong with any of the ones that are listed above.

Drones are usually thought of as toys or hobbyist aircraft. However, they also constitute a substantial risk to your family, home, and privacy. Whether or not you own a drone, it’s important that you’re aware of Transport Canada’s regulations and safety tips regarding their use.

Drone Safety

Here are the basic guidelines for registering and using recreational drones as outlined by Transport Canada:

If your drone weights 35 kg or less and is only used for fun, you don’t need permission from Transport Canada to fly it. For all other aircraft, pilots must apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate.
Pilots must follow the rules laid out in the Canadian Aviation Regulations, specifically the sections on unmanned air vehicles and model aircraft.
Pilots must respect Canada’s laws regarding trespassing and privacy, never fly drones where they aren’t supposed to or risk public safety.

Use these tips to safely operate drones:

Only fly during the daytime and in clear weather.
Keep the drone in sight at all times, and have an observer assist you, if needed.
Inspect your drone prior to flights to ensure it is in good working order.
Avoid flying near airports, staying at least 9 km away.
Fly your drone at least 150 metres away from people, buildings, and other obstacles. In addition, always fly lower than 90 metres.

Safety First

Transport Canada has a variety of safety information available for drone pilots. In addition to a fact sheet on the do’s and don’ts of flying drones, prospective pilots can also review a list of frequently asked questions. Together, these resources allow pilots to enjoy their drones without risking the health and well-being of themselves or those around them.

We are helping those who are searching for the best drones to suit all of their needs. Don’t be shy, take a look around our page and check out some of our lists that feature the best drones in various categories. There is definitely something you will really enjoy!